In 2007, I was honored to be asked by a good friend of mine to provide labor support during her birth. I had no idea what to expect, as I had never seen a birth before. To prepare, I read "The Birth Partner" by Penny Simkin and felt ready to lend a hand. The birth was transformative and I felt incredibly lucky to be present for such an intimate, amazing experience. I found myself in awe of my friend's strength and decided then and there that supporting women through birth was something I needed to do.

In 2004, I received my Masters in Education in Counseling from the University of New Hampshire. After moving to Austin, I began practicing yoga regularly and in 2008 became a Registered Yoga Teacher with a specialization in prenatal yoga. I received my doula certification through DONA (www.dona.org). I draw upon my experience as a counselor and yoga instructor to bring compassion, empathy and strong listening skills to meet the individual needs of each family I work with.

I believe strongly that all women deserve to feel empowered, informed and supported before, during and after their births. I work together with the mother and her partner to prepare both the mind and the body for labor. I want to support you...From Belly to Baby!

I appreciate the opportunity to share with you a little about myself and I would love the chance to speak with you further. Please call me at 512.914.2092 or email doula@emilybessey.com to schedule an initial consultation.

Be well,
Emily